Best Pracce Guide 4 (Issue 3)

Electrical
installation
condition
reporting:
Classification
Codes for
domestic and
similar
electrical
installations
This is one of a series of Best Practice Guides produced by
Electrical Safety First1 in association with leading industry
bodies for the benefit of electrical contractors and installers,
and their customers.

Electrical Safety First is indebted to the following organisations

for their contribution and/or support to the development of
this Guide:

British Gas
www.britishgas.co.uk In electronic format, this Guide is intended to be made available free of
charge to all interested parties. Further copies may be downloaded from
BSI Product Services
the websites of some of the contributing organisations.
www.bsigroup.com
City & Guilds The version of this Guide on the Electrical Safety First website
www.cityandguilds.com (www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk) will always be the latest. Feedback on
any of the Best Practice Guides is always welcome – email
EAL
bpg@electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
www.eal.org.uk
Electrical Contractors’ Association Electrical Safety First is supported by all sectors of the electrical industry,
www.eca.co.uk approvals and research bodies, consumer interest organisations, the
electrical distribution industry, professional institutes and institutions,
ELECSA
regulatory bodies, trade and industry associations and federations, trade
www.elecsa.co.uk
unions, and local and central government.
Institution of Engineering
and Technology *Electrical Safety First (formerly the National Inspection Council for
www.theiet.org Electrical Installation Contracting) is a charitable non-profit making
organisation set up in 1956 to protect users of electricity against the
NAPIT
hazards of unsafe and unsound electrical installations.
www.napit.org.uk
NICEIC
www.niceic.com
SCEME Published by:
www.sceme.org
Electrical Safety First
SELECT
Unit 331
(Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland)
Metal Box Factory
www.select.org.uk
30 Great Guildford Street
London SE1 0HS

Several of the photographs in this Guide have been extracted from a superseded
Electrical Safety First DVD, courtesy of Navigator Productions Ltd. Others were kindly
supplied by Nick Blakeley Electrical and Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
In electronic format, this Guide is intended to be made available
free of charge to all interested parties. Further copies may be
downloaded from the websites of some of the contributing
organisations.
The version of this Guide on the Electrical Safety First website
(www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk) will always be the latest. Feedback
on any of the Best Practice Guides is always welcome – email:
bpg@www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
Tel: 0203 463 5100
Email: bpg@electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
Website: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
Electrical Safety First and other contributors believe that the guidance
and information contained in this Best Practice Guide is correct, but all
parties must rely on their own skill and judgement when making use of
it. Neither Electrical Safety First nor any contributor assumes any liability
to anyone for any loss or damage caused by any error or omission in this
Guide, whether such error or omission is the result of negligence or any
other cause. Where reference is made to legislation, it is not to be
considered as legal advice. Any and all such liability is disclaimed.

© Electrical Safety Council. March 2014

 Electrical installation
condition reporting:
Classification Codes for domestic
and similar electrical installations
The aim of this Guide is to provide practical guidance for competent persons
on the use of the Classification Codes that need to be attributed to each
observation recorded during the periodic inspection and testing of an
electrical installation for the benefit of the person ordering the report.

The guidance is limited to the range of observations that are likely to be

associated with domestic and similar electrical installations. It takes into
account the publication of Amendment 1 to BS 7671: 2008.

Introduction
Every electrical installation deteriorates with use
and time. Therefore, if the safety of the users is not
to be put at risk, it is important that every
installation is periodically inspected and tested by a
competent person. Indeed, it is recommended in
BS 7671: 2008 as amended (Regulation 135.1)
that every electrical installation is subjected to
periodic inspection and testing.
The inspection and testing should be carried out at
appropriate intervals in order to determine what, if
anything, needs to be done to maintain the
installation in a safe and serviceable condition.
The results of the inspection and testing need to be
clearly detailed in a report. Any observed damage,
deterioration, defects, dangerous conditions and
non-compliances with the requirements of the
current edition of BS 7671 that may give rise to
danger should be recorded and appropriately
classified for remedial action.

It should be borne in mind that, as stated in the

introduction to BS 7671, existing installations that
have been constructed in accordance with earlier
editions of the Standard may not comply with the
current edition in every respect, but this does not
necessarily mean that they are unsafe for continued
Inspecting a socket-outlet
use or require upgrading.

©The Electrical Safety Council page 3

An electrical installation condition report is, as its title Purpose of periodic inspection,
indicates, a report and not a certificate. It provides
an assessment of the in-service condition of an
testing and reporting
electrical installation against the requirements of the
edition of BS 7671 current at the time of the The main purpose of periodic inspection and testing
inspection, irrespective of the age of the installation. is to detect so far as is reasonably practicable, and to
report on, any factors impairing or likely to impair
The report is primarily for the benefit of the person
the safety of an electrical installation.
ordering the work and of persons subsequently
involved in additional or remedial work, or further The aspects to be covered include all of the
inspections. The report may be required for one or following:
more of a variety of reasons, each of which may
impose particular requirements or limitations on the • Safety of persons against the effects of electric
shock and burns
inspection and testing.

The report is required to include details of the extent

• Protection against damage to property by fire
and heat arising from an installation defect
of the installation and of any limitations of the
inspection and testing, including the reasons for any • Confirmation that the installation is not
such limitations and the name of the person with damaged or deteriorated so as to impair safety
whom those limitations were agreed. It should be • Identification of non-compliances with the
noted that the greater the limitations applying, the current edition of BS 7671, or installation
lesser is the scope of the inspection and testing defects, which may give rise to danger.
carried out, and hence the value of the report is
correspondingly diminished. The report is also
required to include a record of the inspection and
the results of testing.

The report provides a formal declaration that, within

the agreed and stated limitations, the details
recorded, including the observations and
recommendations, and the completed schedules of
inspection and test results, give an accurate
assessment of the condition of the electrical
installation at the time it was inspected.

Electrical installations in poor condition present risks of fire as

well as electric shock

A typical periodic inspection notice for an older installation

page 4 ©The Electrical Safety Council

The inspector
All persons carrying out the inspection and testing of
electrical installations must be competent to do so.
A continuity test being carried out
To be competent to undertake the periodic
inspection and testing of an existing electrical
installation, persons must as a minimum:
• Have sufficient knowledge and experience of
electrical installation matters to avoid injury to
themselves and others
• Be familiar with, and understand, the
requirements of the current edition of BS 7671
including those relating to inspection, testing
and reporting
• Be skilled in the safe application of the
appropriate test instruments and procedures
• Have a sound knowledge of the particular type
of installation to be inspected and tested
• Have sufficient information about the function
and construction of the installation to allow
them to proceed in safety.
©The Electrical Safety Council
If the inspector is competent and takes all the
necessary safety precautions including following the
correct procedures, the process of inspecting and
testing should not create danger to persons, or cause
damage to property.
Past events indicate that persons undertaking
electrical installation condition reporting need to
have extensive knowledge and experience of
electrical installation matters to enable them to
safely and accurately assess the condition of an
existing electrical installation. This is especially so
when they do not have access to the design or
maintenance information relating to that
installation.
Guidance on safe isolation procedures is available in
another Best Practice Guide (No 2 in the series)
published by Electrical Safety First, which can be
downloaded free of charge from
www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk and other
contributing bodies.
page 5
Periodic inspection and
testing procedures
The procedures for periodic inspection and testing
differ in some respects from those for the initial
verification of new installation work. This is because
the subject of an electrical installation condition
report is usually an installation which has been
energised and in use for some time. Particular
attention therefore needs to be given during the
inspection process to assessing the condition of the
installation in respect of:
• Safety
• Wear and tear
• Corrosion
• Damage and deterioration
• Excessive loading
• Age
• External influences
• Suitability (taking account of any changes in
use or building extensions etc).
A potentially overloaded socket-outlet
page 6
Also, for reasons beyond the inspector’s control, the
inspector may be unable to gain access to parts of
the existing installation. For example, it is usually
impracticable to inspect cables that have been
concealed within the fabric of the building.
Such restrictions are likely to result in the inspection
and testing of those parts of the installation being
limited, or being omitted entirely from the process.
Where, during the course of inspection or testing, a
real and immediate danger is found to be present in
an installation (from an accessible exposed live part,
for example), immediate action will be necessary to
make it safe before continuing. However, the
discovery of the dangerous condition should still be
recorded in the report and classified accordingly.
Inspectors should note that, even in domestic
premises, Section 3 of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work
Regulations 1989 effectively require them to
endeavour to make safe, before leaving site and with
the agreement of the user or owner, any dangerous
conditions found in an installation. For example,
where there are accessible live parts due to blanks
missing from a consumer unit, suitable temporary
barriers should be provided to protect persons from
direct contact with those live parts.
As persons using the installation are at risk, it is not
sufficient simply to draw attention to the danger
when submitting the electrical installation condition
report. At the very least, the inspector must ensure
that the client is made aware, at the time of
discovery, of the danger that exists. An agreement
should be made with the client as to the appropriate
action to be taken to remove the source of danger
(for example, by switching off and isolating the
affected part of the installation until remedied),
before continuing with the inspection or testing.
©The Electrical Safety Council
A dangerous condition - line conductor connected to the metallic
enclosure of a light fitting (in addition to exposed conductors)

Some certification, registration and membership

bodies make available ‘dangerous condition
notification’ forms. These assist inspectors to record,
and then to communicate immediately to the
person responsible for the safety of the installation,
any dangerous condition discovered.

©The Electrical Safety Council page 7

Observations

The periodic inspection and testing procedures
should identify any damage, deterioration, defects
and conditions within the installation that give rise,
or potentially give rise, to danger. The procedures
should also identify any deficiencies for which
remedial action would contribute to a significant
improvement in the safety of the electrical
installation.
After due consideration, each such observed safety
issue should be recorded at the appropriate point in
the inspection or test results schedule, and further
detailed in the ‘observations’ section of the report.
Only observations that can be supported by one or
more regulations in the edition of BS 7671 current
at the time of the periodic inspection should be
recorded. The particular regulation number(s) need
not be entered in the report (unless specifically
required by the client), but should serve to remind
the inspector that it is only compliance with BS 7671
that is to be considered. Observations based solely
on personal preference or ‘custom and practice’
should not be included.

The observations should be based on the

requirements of the edition of BS 7671 current at
the time of the inspection, not on the requirements
of an earlier edition current at the time the
installation was constructed.

Each observation should be written in a clear,

accurate and concise manner that is likely to be
understood by the person ordering the work.
Technical terms should be avoided or explained
unless it is known that the recipient is an electrical
engineer or electrician, for example.

An electrical installation condition report is intended Recessed luminaire above a bath (outside the zones)
to be a factual report on the condition of an
installation, not a proposal for remedial work.
Therefore, each recorded observation should
describe a specific defect, omission or item for which
improvement is recommended.

The observation should detail what the situation is,

and not what is considered necessary to put it right.
For example, ‘excessive damage to the consumer
unit enclosure’ would be appropriate, whereas
‘consumer unit to be replaced’ would not.

page 8 ©The Electrical Safety Council

Classification Codes

Each observation relating to a concern about the
safety of the installation should be attributed an
appropriate Classification Code selected from the
standard codes C1, C2 and C3. Each code has a
particular meaning:
Code C1 ‘Danger present’. Risk of injury.
Immediate remedial action required.
Where a Classification Code C1 is considered
appropriate, the client is to be advised immediately,
and also in writing, that immediate remedial action
is required (or has been taken) to remove the
danger. As previously indicated, this action is
necessary to satisfy the duties imposed on the
inspector and other duty holders by the Health and
Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the Electricity at
Work Regulations 1989.

Code C2 ‘Potentially dangerous’. Wherever an item in the inspection or test results

Urgent remedial action required schedule has been attributed a Classification Code
Code C3 ‘Improvement recommended’. C1, C2 or C3, there should be a corresponding
observation in the ‘observations’ section of
the report.
Only one of the standard Classification Codes should
be attributed to each observation. If more than one
Classification Code could be attributed to an
observation, only the most serious one should be
used (Code C1 being the most serious).

Where the inspection and testing procedures

identify an item which is dangerous or potentially
dangerous, it should be identified in the inspection
or test results schedule of the report by attributing to
it a Classification Code C1 or C2, as appropriate, in
the ‘outcome’ column of the inspection schedule or,
where provided, the ‘remarks’ column of the test
schedule.

Where the inspection and testing procedures

identify an item which is not dangerous or
potentially dangerous, but for which improvement is
Live parts exposed to touch
recommended, it should be identified in the
inspection or test results schedule of the report by
attributing to it a Classification Code C3 in the
‘outcome’ column of the inspection schedule or,
where provided, the ‘remarks’ column of the test
schedule.

Where during inspection and testing a real and

immediate danger is observed that puts the
safety of those using the installation at risk,
Classification Code C1 (danger present) must
be given.

©The Electrical Safety Council page 9

In general terms, the
Classification Codes should be
used as follows:
Code C1 (Danger present)
This code should be used to indicate that danger
exists, requiring immediate remedial action.
The persons using the installation are at immediate
risk. The person ordering the report should be
advised to take action without delay to remedy the
observed deficiency in the installation, or to take
other appropriate action (such as switching off and
isolating the affected parts of the installation) to
remove the danger. The inspector should not wait
for the full report to be issued before giving this
advice.
As previously indicated, some certification,
registration and membership bodies make available
‘dangerous condition notification’ forms to enable
inspectors to record, and then to communicate
immediately to the person ordering the report, any
dangerous condition discovered.
Code C2 (Potentially dangerous)
This code should be used to indicate that, whilst an
observed deficiency is not considered to be
dangerous at the time of the periodic inspection, it
would become a real and immediate danger if a
fault or other foreseeable event was to occur in the
installation or connected equipment.
The person ordering the report should be advised
that, whilst the safety of those using the installation
may not be at immediate risk, remedial action
should be taken as a matter of urgency to remove
the source of potential danger.
Code C3 (Improvement recommended)
This code should be used to indicate that, whilst an
observed deficiency is not considered to be a source
of immediate or potential danger, improvement
would contribute to a significant enhancement of
the safety of the electrical installation.
page 10
Further investigation
The model forms in BS 7671: 2008 incorporating
Amendment 1 provide for a need for further
investigation to be indicated against each inspection
and test outcome, and against each observation.
Usually, however, it should be possible to attribute a
Classification Code to each observation without the
need for further investigation.
The purpose of periodic inspection, as previously
stated, is not to carry out a fault-finding exercise, but
to assess and report on the condition of an
installation within the agreed extent and limitations
of the inspection. Therefore, where an observation
can be attributed a Classification Code, further
investigation would not be required for the purposes
of completing the condition report.
Further investigation should not be called for in
respect of any observation unless that investigation
could reasonably be expected to reveal danger or
potential danger. Further investigation should not be
called for simply because it would be ‘nice to know’
– for example, why a socket-outlet is unearthed.
If an observation cannot be attributed a
Classification Code due to reasonable doubt as
to whether danger or potential danger exists,
the outcome of the assessment must be
reported to be unsatisfactory.
The person ordering the report should be advised
that the inspection and/or testing has revealed a
potential safety issue which could not, due to the
agreed extent or limitations of the inspection, be
fully determined, and that the issue should be
investigated as soon as possible.
An example of an observation that might possibly
justify further investigation is given on page 17.
Departures from the requirements of the current
edition of BS 7671 that do not give rise to
danger or need improvement
Amendment 1 to BS 7671: 2008 no longer requires
departures from the requirements of the current
edition of BS 7671 that do not give rise to danger or
need improvement to be recorded in condition
reports. (Examples of such departures are given on
page 17.)
©The Electrical Safety Council
Summary of the condition
of the installation
The summary should adequately describe the
general condition of the installation in terms of
electrical safety, taking into account the specific
observations made. It is essential to provide a clear
summary of the condition of the installation having
considered, for example:
• The adequacy of the earthing and bonding
arrangements
• The suitability of the consumer unit and other
control equipment
• The type(s) of wiring system, and its condition
• The serviceability of equipment, including
accessories
• The presence of adequate identification and
notices
• The extent of any wear and tear, damage or
other deterioration
• Changes in use of the premises that have led
to, or might lead to, deficiencies in the
installation.
Minimal descriptions such as ‘poor’, and
superficial statements such as ‘recommend a
rewire’, are considered unacceptable as they do
not indicate the true condition of an
installation. It will often be necessary or
appropriate to explain the implications of an
electrical installation condition report in a
covering letter, for the benefit of recipients who
require additional advice and guidance about
their installation.
For example, where an installation has deteriorated
or been damaged to such an extent that its safe
serviceable life can reasonably be considered to be
at an end, a recommendation for renewal should be
made in a covering letter, giving adequate
supporting reasons. Reference to the covering letter
should be made in the report.
©The Electrical Safety Council
Unsatisfactory connection to a downlighter
On the model electrical installation condition report
given in BS 7671, a box is provided for the overall
assessment of the condition of the installation to be
given. After due consideration, the overall condition
of the installation should be given as either
‘satisfactory’ or ‘unsatisfactory’.
If any observation in the report has been given
a Code C1 or Code C2 classification as
categorised in this Guide, or if any observations
require further investigation to determine
whether danger or potential danger exists, the
overall assessment of the condition of the
installation must be reported to be
‘unsatisfactory’.
If there are no observations in the report classified
as C1 or C2, or that require further investigation, it
would not be reasonable to report the overall
condition of the installation as unsatisfactory.
The recommended interval until the next
inspection should be made conditional upon all
observations that have been given a
Classification Code C1 (danger present) being
remedied immediately and all observations that
have been given a Code C2 (potentially
dangerous) or that require further investigation
being remedied or investigated respectively as a
matter of urgency.
Where the space provided for the description of the
general condition of the installation is inadequate
for the purpose and it is necessary to continue the
description on an additional page(s), the page
number(s) of the additional page(s) should be
recorded.
page 11
Examples of the use of Classification Codes

Examples of the use of • Conductive parts have become live as the

result of a fault
Classification Codes
• Incorrect polarity

It is entirely a matter for the competent person Code C2 (Potentially dangerous)

conducting the inspection to decide on the Observations that would usually warrant a Code C2
Classification Code to be attributed to an classification include:
observation. The inspector’s own judgement as
a competent person should not be unduly • Absence of a reliable and effective means of
influenced by the person ordering the work. The earthing for the installation
person(s) signing the report are fully responsible
for its content and accuracy.

The following examples are not exhaustive. All

references to RCD protection mean additional
protection by an RCD having a rated operating
(tripping) current (I∆n) not greater than 30 mA
and an operating time not exceeding 40 ms at a
residual current of 5 I∆n.

Code C1 (Danger present)

Observations that would almost certainly warrant a
Code C1 classification include: Absence of a reliable means of earthing

• Exposed live parts that are accessible to touch,

such as where:
❍ a fuse carrier or circuit-breaker is missing
from a consumer unit and a blanking piece is
not fitted in its place
❍ terminations or connections have no (or
damaged) barriers or enclosures
❍ live conductors have no (or damaged)
insulation
❍ an accessory is badly damaged.
• A public utility water pipe being used as the
means of earthing for the installation
• A gas or oil pipe being used as the means of
earthing for the installation
• Cross-sectional area of the earthing conductor
does not satisfy adiabatic requirements (that is,
does not comply with Regulation 543.1.1)
• Absence of a circuit protective conductor for a
lighting circuit supplying one or more items of
Class I equipment, or connected to switches
having metallic face plates2

• Absence of a notice warning that lighting

circuits have no circuit protective conductor2

• Absence of a circuit protective conductor for a

circuit, other than a lighting circuit, supplying
one or more items of Class I equipment

• Absence of earthing at a socket-outlet

• Absence of main protective bonding

Socket-outlet with broken face plate

2 See the Electrical Safety First Best Practice Guide No 1 - replacing a consumer unit in domestic premises where lighting circuits have
no protective conductor.

page 12 ©The Electrical Safety Council

 Examples of the use of Classification Codes

• Inadequate cross-sectional area of a main • Socket-outlets other than SELV or shaver socket-
protective bonding conductor where the outlets located less than 3 m horizontally from
conductor is less than 6 mm2 or where there is the boundary of zone 1 in a location containing
evidence of thermal damage a bath or shower

• Absence of supplementary bonding where • Absence of fault protection (protection against

required3 , such as in a location containing a indirect contact) by RCD where required, such
bath or shower, where any of the following as for a socket-outlet circuit in an installation
three conditions are not satisfied: forming part of a TT system

❍ All final circuits of the location comply with • Circuits with ineffective overcurrent protection
the requirements of Regulation 411.3.2 for (due, for example, to oversized fuse wire in
automatic disconnection, and rewireable fuses)

❍ All final circuits of the location have

additional protection by means of a 30 mA
RCD, and
❍ All extraneous-conductive-parts of the
location are effectively connected to the
protective equipotential bonding (main
earthing terminal).

Checking a fuse carrier (base missing)

• A protective device installed in a neutral

conductor only

• Separate protective devices in line and neutral

conductors (for example, double-pole fusing)

Absence of supplementary bonding

• The main RCD or voltage-operated earth-

leakage circuit-breaker on a TT system fails to
operate when tested with an instrument or
integral test button

• Absence of RCD protection for portable or

mobile equipment that may reasonably be
expected to be used outdoors

• Absence of RCD protection for socket-outlets in

a location containing a bath or shower, other
than for SELV or shaver socket-outlets
Double-pole switch with fuses in each pole

3 Where the presence of supplementary bonding cannot be confirmed by inspection, it may be verified by a continuity test (< 0.05Ω)

©The Electrical Safety Council page 13

Examples of the use of Classification Codes

• Earth fault loop impedance value greater than
that required for operation of the protective
device within the time prescribed in the version
of BS 7671/IET Wiring Regulations current at
the time of installation
• Insulation of live conductors deteriorated to
such an extent that the insulating material
readily breaks away from the conductors

• A ring final circuit having a discontinuous

conductor

• A ring final circuit cross-connected with

another circuit

• Inconsistent resistance values for the

conductors of ring final circuits

• Unsatisfactory electrical connection (such as

a loose connection or type, number and/or
size of conductors unsuitable for the means
of connection)
Crumbling vulcanised rubber insulation
• Sheath of an insulated and sheathed non-
armoured cable not taken inside the enclosure
of an accessory, such as at a socket-outlet or
lighting switch, where the unsheathed cores are
accessible to touch and/or likely to come into
contact with metalwork. (Note: Code C3 would
apply if the unsheathed cores are not
accessible to touch nor likely to come into
contact with metalwork)

Unsatisfactory electrical connections

• A ‘borrowed neutral’, for example where a

single final circuit neutral is shared by two final
circuits (such as an upstairs lighting circuit and
a separately-protected downstairs lighting
circuit)
• Insulation resistance of less than 1 MΩ
between live conductors connected together
and Earth, when measured at the consumer
unit with all final circuits connected
Cable sheath not taken inside metallic enclosure
• Unenclosed electrical connections, such as at
luminaires. (Such a defect can contribute to a
fire, particularly where extra-low voltage
filament lamps are used)
• Fire risk from incorrectly installed electrical
equipment, including incorrectly selected or
installed downlighters

page 14 ©The Electrical Safety Council

 Examples of the use of Classification Codes
• Fire risk from lamps exceeding the maximum
rated wattage for the luminaires, or placed too
close to combustible materials
• Evidence of excessive heat (such as charring)
from electrical equipment causing damage to
the installation or its surroundings
• Unsatisfactory functional operation of
equipment where this might result in danger
• Immersion heater does not comply with
BS EN 60335-2-73 (that is, it does not have a
built-in cut-out that will operate if the stored
water temperature reaches 98 OC if the
thermostat fails), and the cold water storage
tank is plastic
Older immersion heater without thermal cut-out
• Electrical equipment having an inadequate
degree of ingress protection (IP rating) for the
external influences likely to occur in the
location, if this results in potential danger
• Absence of warning notices indicating the
presence of an alternative or secondary source
of electricity, such as a standby generator or
microgenerator
Photovoltaic installation (Photo courtesy Energy Saving Trust)
©The Electrical Safety Council
• Fixed equipment does not have a means of
switching off for mechanical maintenance,
where such maintenance involves a risk of
burns, or injury from mechanical movement.
Code C3 (Improvement recommended)
Observations that would usually warrant a Code C3
classification include:
• Absence of RCD protection for a socket-outlet
that is unlikely to supply portable or mobile
equipment for use outdoors, does not serve a
location containing a bath or shower, and the
use of which is otherwise not considered by the
inspector to result in potential danger.
(Note: Code C2 would apply if the circuit
supplied a socket-outlet in a location
containing a bath or shower in accordance
with Regulation 701.512.3)
RCD in a consumer unit
• Absence of RCD protection for cables installed
at a depth of less than 50 mm from a surface
of a wall or partition where the cables do not
incorporate an earthed metallic covering, are
not enclosed in earthed metalwork, or are not
mechanically protected against penetration by
nails and the like
• Absence of RCD protection for circuits of a
location containing a bath or shower where
satisfactory supplementary bonding is present
page 15
Examples of the use of Classification Codes
• Reliance on a voltage-operated earth-leakage
circuit-breaker for fault protection (protection
against indirect contact), subject to the device
being proved to operate correctly. (If the
circuit-breaker relies on a water pipe not
permitted by Regulation 542.2.6 as the means
of earthing, this would attract a Code C2
classification.)
60 A voltage-operated earth-leakage circuit-breaker.
(Photo courtesy of RF Lighting)
• Absence of a quarterly test notice for any RCD
or voltage-operated earth-leakage circuit-
breaker
• Absence of circuit protective conductors in
circuits having only Class II (or all-insulated)
luminaires and switches4
• Absence of ‘Safety Electrical Connection — Do
Not Remove’ notice
Unmarked bonding conductor
4 See the Electrical Safety First Best Practice Guide No1 - replacing a consumer unit in domestic premises where lighting circuits have
no protective conductor.
page 16
• Sheath of an insulated and sheathed non-
armoured cable not taken inside the enclosure
of an accessory, such as at a socket-outlet or
lighting switch. (Note: Code C2 would apply if
unsheathed cores are accessible to touch
and/or likely to come into contact with
metalwork)
Cable sheaths not taken inside non-conducting enclosure
• Bare protective conductor of an insulated and
sheathed cable not sleeved with insulation,
colour coded to indicate its function
• Electrical equipment having an inadequate
degree of ingress protection (IP rating) for the
external influences likely to occur in the
location, if this does not result in potential
danger
• Socket-outlet mounted in such a position as to
result in potential damage to socket, plug
and/or flex
• Absence of a notice indicating that the
installation has wiring colours to two versions
of BS 7671 (if appropriate)
• Absence of circuit identification details
©The Electrical Safety Council
 Examples of the use of Classification Codes
Further investigation required
Observations that would usually require further
investigation include:
• Characteristics of electricity supply (such as
voltage or external earth fault loop impedance)
do not conform to supply industry norms.
Departures from the requirements of the current
edition of BS 7671 that do not give rise to
danger or need improvement
Amendment 1 to BS 7671: 2008 no longer requires
departures from the requirements of the current
edition of BS 7671 that do not give rise to danger or
require improvement to be included in condition
reports. Such departures include:
• Absence of a reliable earth connection to a
recessed metallic back box of an insulated
accessory, such as where there is no ‘earthing
tail’ connecting the earthing terminal of the
accessory to the box, and the box does not
have a fixed lug that comes into contact with
an earthed eyelet on the accessory
• Inadequate cross-sectional area of a main
protective bonding conductor provided that the
conductor is at least 6 mm2 and that there is
no evidence of thermal damage
• Absence of supplementary bonding for
installed Class II equipment where required
(such as in a location containing a bath or
shower), in case the equipment is replaced with
Class I equipment in the future
Main bonding connection not made before branch pipework
©The Electrical Safety Council
• Main protective bonding to gas, water or other
service pipe is inaccessible for inspection,
testing and maintenance, or connection not
made before any branch pipework.
(Note: The connection should preferably be
within 600 mm of the meter outlet union or at
the point of entry to the building if the meter is
external.)
• Protective conductor of a lighting circuit not (or
incorrectly) terminated at the final circuit
connection point to a Class II (or insulated)
item of equipment, such as at a switch
mounting box or luminaire
• Switch lines not identified as line conductors at
terminations (for example, a conductor having
blue insulation is not sleeved brown in switches
or lighting points)
• Circuit protective conductors or final circuit
conductors in a consumer unit not arranged or
marked so that they can be identified for
inspection, testing or alteration of the
installation
• Installation not divided into an adequate
number of circuits to minimise inconvenience
for safe operation, fault clearance, inspection
and testing
• Inadequate number of socket-outlets. (Code C3
or, where appropriate C2, if extension leads run
through doorways, walls or windows, or under
carpets, or are otherwise being used in an
unsafe manner)
• Use of unsheathed flex for lighting pendants
• Cable core colours complying with a previous
edition of BS 7671.
page 17
Items that are NOT departures
from the current edition
of BS 7671
The following items are commonly included in
electrical installation condition reports as requiring
remedial action, but are not departures from the
current edition of BS 7671, and should therefore not
be recorded:

• Absence of earthing and/or bonding to metallic

sinks and baths (unless they are extraneous-
conductive-parts in their own right) Consumer unit with circuit-breakers and fuses

• The use of rewireable fuses (where they provide

adequate circuit protection)

Consumer units having rewireable fuses can continue to provide

satisfactory service

• The use of circuit-breakers to BS 3871

• Absence of barriers inside a consumer unit

(provided the cover is removable only with the
use of a key or tool)

• Absence of bonding connections to boiler

pipework (where the pipework is not an
extraneous-conductive-part in its own right)

• Shaver supply units installed in zone 2 of a

location containing a bath or shower and
located where direct spray from a shower
is unlikely

• Absence of switches on socket-outlets and

fused connection units

• Any other observation not directly related to

electrical safety and hence to the suitability of
the installation for continued service.

page 18 ©The Electrical Safety Council

Other issues
The following items are worthy of an appropriate
note in the electrical installation condition report, but
should not be given a Classification Code:

• The absence of a fire detection and alarm

system (smoke/heat/carbon monoxide
detectors etc)

• The absence of an emergency lighting system

in a location normally requiring such a system
(for example in a communal area of a block
of flats)

• Combustible materials stored in close proximity

to the electrical intake equipment (consumer
unit/meter/service head)

Label warning against storing combustible materials near to

electrical equipment

©The Electrical Safety Council page 19

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